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Alternatively, you may complete our Application for Personal Credit Report Form to receive a copy of your credit report in the mail. In addition to completing the form, you will need to provide the following documents to verify your identity:

A copy of your Driver's Licence, Passport, Birth Certificate or Proof of Age card; AND

A copy of a document issued by an official body (such as a utility bill or bank statement)

D&B adheres to the Privacy Act, Credit Reporting Code of Conduct and the National Privacy Principles by providing you with the right to obtain a copy of your credit report.

Avoiding hidden fees in credit cards

Many credit products contain built-in fees, and a failure to read the fine
print or understand what you’re signing up to when applying for new
credit may impact you later on when you receive your bill. Here are some common
fees to look out for at the outset of the sign-up process to ensure
you’re not surprised when it’s time to pay your bills.

Ongoing interest rates

You may think you’re getting a good deal with low or zero per cent
interest rates when you balance transfer, but read carefully to see when
this offer expires. Often, interest rates rise once the introductory period
has expired.

Late payment fees

If you miss the minimum payment due date, you’ll likely incur late
payment fees, which vary with each financial institution. It may seem like
a small amount if you miss payment once, but do it repeatedly and
you’ll end up paying more than you expected to. Avoid these fees by
setting up SMS/email reminders or auto-pay your bills from your bank
account.

Additional cardholder fee

Additional cardholder fees can be automatically debited from your credit
card account, so it’s a good idea to read your contract in detail to
see if you’re willing to pay the fee before signing up an additional
cardholder.

Cash advance fee

Many lenders charge a service fee for cash advances in addition to ATM
fees, particularly if you’re using an ATM not affiliated with your
bank or if you’re overseas. Also, many credit card users aren’t
aware that cash advances include more than just withdrawing cash from an
ATM using a credit card. According to Credit Card Finder, it can also
include paying bills from a non-BPAY registered service, taking cash out
via your credit card in a supermarket, buying travellers’ cheques
overseas and transferring money from your credit account to someone
else’s. A cash advance may be handy in a pinch, but also bear in mind
the high interest rates, which are usually around 20 per cent.

International fees

Many consumers often use their credit card for purchases when overseas,
but fail to realise that they’re being charged an international
transaction fee on top of currency conversion. The transaction fee varies
depending on the type of card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express). This
can range from 2 to 3 per cent of the transaction amount, whether
it’s cash advances or purchases.

The onus is on the consumer to thoroughly read the fine print in their
credit contract to safeguard themselves against the surprise of hidden fees. If
you’re overwhelmed by all the different terms and conditions, or simply
don’t agree with any of the built-in fees, remember that you can always
shop around to find the best deal for your financial situation.